Earlier today, the Yankees claimed OF Bryan de la Cruz off waivers from the Atlanta Braves and optioned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
De la Cruz, 28, has batted .191 (9-for-47) with 1R, 1 double, 3BB and 1SB in 16 games for the Braves this season. He was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on April 17, 2025, and batted .200 (8-for-40) with 1R, 1 double, 1RBI and 3BB in 11 games.
Over parts of five Major League seasons with the Miami Marlins (2021-24), Pittsburgh Pirates (2024) and Atlanta Braves (2025), the right-handed batter has hit .251 (436-for-1,738) with 177R, 85 doubles, 2 triples, 58HR, 208RBI, 109BB and 15SB in 491 career games. He has appeared defensively in his career in left field (265G/227GS), right field (127G/102GS) and centerfield (73G/61GS). In 2024, he set career highs in home runs (21) and runs scored (61) with Miami (105G) and Pittsburgh (44G).
The Santo Domingo, D.R., native was originally signed by the Houston Astros as a non-drafted free agent on September 24, 2013. De la Cruz was acquired by the Miami Marlins along with RHP Austin Pruitt from Houston in exchange for RHP Yimi García on July 28, 2021. He was then acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates from Miami in exchange for INF Garret Forrester and RHP Jun-Seok Shim on July 30, 2024. Additionally, he was non-tendered by Pittsburgh on November 22, 2024, and signed with the Atlanta Braves to a Major League contract on January 3, 2025.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees have transferred DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton to the 60-day injured list.